Type locking means in marking machines



y 7, 1952 o. PETERMANN ETAL 2,598,438

' TYPE LOCKING MEANS m MARKING MACHINES Filed Feb. 26, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet l 1% M 3 5o :3 9o- 5 33 4 INVENTORS Z 3 (9m (9W QbMhJ y 1952 o. PETERMANN ETAL 2,598,438

TYPE LOCKING MEANS IN MARKING MACHINES Filed Feb. 26, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS CJCCO @iiam/vmmm BY I'M y 27, 1952 o. PETERMANN ETAL 2,598,438

TYPE LOCKING MEANS IN MARKING MACHINES Filed Feb. 26, 1946 5 Shees-Sheet 3 0. PETERMANN ET AL TYPE LOCKING MEANS IN MARKING MACHINES May 27, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 26, 1946 INVENTORS 6m BY '3' \W y 1952 o. PETERMANN ETAL 2,598,438

TYPE LOCKING MEANS IN MARKING MACHINES Filed Feb. 26, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS R Patented May 27, 1952 TYPE LOCKING MEANS IN MARKING MACHINES Gtto Petermann, Groton, and Frank Kosmer, Syracuse, N. Y., assignors to Philip N. Braun 1110., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application February 26, 1946, Serial No. 650,216

3 Claims.

This invention relates to marking machines of the type for applying identification symbols or characters, as numbers, letters or combinations thereof, to articles, such as articles to be laundry-cleaned or dry-cleaned, and has for its object a marking machine embodying type wheels, and inking and printing mechanism, the latter operating 'to apply ink to the type heads at the printing line and to print the symbols, numbers or letters, etc. in the type at the printing line, on the article, upon each operation of the operating member for the inking and printing mechanism. More particularly, it has for its object the mounting of the type wheels, and mechanism for locking them in their set position as a unit in the casing, so that they are removable and replaceable as a unit, and the mounting of the inking and printing mechaby the operating member of the inking and printing mechanism through connections, which are separable when the type Wheel carriage or v frame and/or the carriage or frame for the inking and printing mechanism is removed, all whereby the parts of the two units are made quickly and readily accessible for cleaning, repairing, etc., and quickly replaceable.

The invention further has for its object a type wheel mechanism by which the type wheels are firmly held against misalinement in any adjusted position during the printing operation, that is, with a certain type at the printing line, and also means operable at will for releasing the printing wheels when it is desired to set a new symbol or combination of characters at the printing line in the wheels, the releasing means including parts carried by the casing or cover therefor and for the type wheel frame or carriage.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations of this machine, partl broken away, showing respectively the printing mechanism and also the looking mechanism in their positions assumed at the start of a printing operation and at the same time when the printing is being performed, the locking mechanism being also shown, as in its position at the start of the first printing operation and just prior to the printing operation, the last position being also that occupied by the locking mechanism during repeated printings from the same type at the printing line.

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the unit consisting of the printing wheels, its frame and associated parts'as removed therefrom, and also the unit consisting of the inking and printing mechanism being "removed from the casing.

Figure 4 is an elevation showing the covers for the casing as displaced preliminarily to removing the type wheel and the inking and printing mechanism units. t

Figure 5 is a side elevation of one of the printing wheels.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary edge view thereof.

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are, respectively, side and front elevations and plan view of the type wheel unit.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 are, respectively, enlarged side and front elevations and plan View of the inking and printing mechanism unit.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary elevation of parts seen in Figure 10.

Figure 14 is a detail view of the inkinghead showing the equalizing action thereof.

Figure 15 (Sheet 1) is a fragmentary face view of one of the covers of thecasing.

Figures 16 and 1'7 are, respectively, enlarged plan views of one of the holding or guide members for the margins of the type wheels and illustrative of both; and of cheer the heads or yokes of the type wheel locking means.

This invention comprises a casing in which are mounted two units which are removable from and replaceable in the casing independently of each other, and in which the mechanism of one unit coacts with the mechanism of the other unit, one unit including type wheels mounted on a suitable carriage, and locking mechanism for holding the type wheels in any position in which they are set by hand or by the operator, andthe other unit including an operating member which, during its operation, sets the locking mechanism for the type wheels to hold the type wheels firmly in-set position and with their type in alinement at the printing line, the locking mechanism remaining in locked position during repeated operations with the same set of type wheels, and operator-operated means for releasing the type wheels and permitting a new setting thereof, this means including a part on the type wheel frame and a part carried by the casing or the cover therefor, from which the part on the type wheel frame is separable during removal of the type wheel unit.

The casing l is of relatively narrow width and consists of side walls 2 spaced apart and connected together at their bottom edges at the front and rear thereof by cross plates 3, 4. The major part of the casing or side plates 2 are part cylindrical as semi-cylindrical at their upper edges and, being spaced apart, provide the casing with an open top. The side plates have forwardly extending portions 5 below the horizontaldiameter of the semi-cylindrical portion and in front thereof. The front portion of the easing is also open at its top, as the side plates 2 are spaced apart. The casing also includes covers 6 and 1 for the major part, and for the forwardly extending portions 5 thereof, the cover 6 having an arcuate front top portion and an upright rear portion 3. One of the side plates 2 is formed with an upright diametrically extending channel 9 (Figure 4) which serves to reinforce it and also as a guide for the type wheel carriage frame, as will be presently pointed out.

Referring particularly to Figures 3, l, 8 and 9,

' i designates the frame of the type wheel unit, this being skeleton in form and of any suitable construction, it being preferably fabricated from metal strips welded together. ll designates the type wheels. As seen in Figure 5, each is composed of diametrically located segments 12 and l3, the segments [2 carrying the type i l on their peripheries and the segments I 3 being provided with peripheral notches or serrations 15 having inclined or cam-shaped bottoms forming part of locking mechanism to be described. The type wheels are skeleton in form and, the segments are carried by diametrically extending spokes intersecting at the axes of the segments. The type wheels are mounted in the frame on a shaft i6 common to all of them, this shaft extending through openings in the horizontal upper bars of the frame IO. The shaft 16 is held in position or from axial displacement by a spring key l'i' anchored at It! to the frame l0, and extended crosswise or tangentially of one end of the shaft [6 outside of the frame 10, and being located in a groove ISA therein, the spring being biased to press into the groove. This mounting provides a particularly easy way for assembling and removing and replacing the type wheels. The opposite end of the shaft ltprojects beyond the side face of the frame l0 into the channel bar 5 and moves along the channel during the removal and replacement of the type wheel unit.

The segments of each type wheel are so located as to counterbalance each other (Figures 3 and 5) sothat'the type wheels are held by the locking means in their adjusted position with a minimum of'spri'ng pressure, and are also easily shiftable aboutaxes to set different type at the printing line without counterbalancing springs. The type wheels are also provided with radially extending finger-piecesZO, one for each, extending through slots in the cover .plate 6 (Figure The strips or lands between the slots are provided with scales indicating the character or type at the printing line when the finger-piece is in line therewith. The type wheels are fabricated from sheet metal strips arranged edgewise, and the type themselves are provided on type segments 54 U-shaped in cross section and secured to the segment 12 by being arranged astride thereof, as seen in Figures 5 and 6. The frame [0 slidably fits between the side walls of the casing l. The type wheels are held firmly against lateral dis placement or held so that the type at the printing line is held from getting out of alinement, by guides arranged diametrically opposite each other on the top horizontal bar of the frame HI and coact with the segments l2, l3.

The holding means, as seen in Figures '7, 8, 9 and 16, comprises members 24 and 22 forming cross bars of the frame ID at the front and rear end thereof, these plates being formed with slots 23 and 24 into which the inner edges of the segments l2 and the outer edges of the segments l3 extend respectively, so that they resemble combs. The locking means for firmly locking the segments from rocking or circumferential movement, when in their set position, and also stabilizing them from lateral chucking or shifting movement when the segments are in the slots 23, 24 of the members 2:, 22, as here shown, includes supporting arms, as levers 25, one for each type wheel pivoted at 26 to the frame In at the rear thereof and carrying at their upper ends bifurcated heads or yokes 2'! (Figure 1'7) astride the segments 13 respectively and engaging the opposite faces of said segments, and a follower or shoulder as a roller 28 carried between the bifurcations of each head 21 and coacting with the notches or serrations I 5 of the rack 13. The levers are acted upon by springs 29 which permit the rollers to ratchet along the rack l3 during the setting of the type wheels when the levers are not locked or restrained from movement. as will be presently described. The levers are locked from movement by means operated by the printing mechanism during each printing operation thereof, so that when the printing mechanism is first operated, the levers 25 are locked from pivotal movement with the rollers 28 seated in notches (5 in the segments l3.

The means for locking the levers from movement, as here shown, consists of a pivotal universal bar 39 (Figures 1, 2, '7, 8 and 9), this being pivoted at 3| to the frame H), which extends transversely of the lower ends of the levers and has a leaf 32 common to all the levers. The edge of the leaf 32 is normally spaced from the levers. permitting them to have a ratcheting movement. The universal bar 30 is, however, moved on its pivot 3| to carry the edge of the leaf against'the levers, and thus lock them from movement, by a push bar 33 extending forwardly and rearwardly of the frame 10 andv carried thereby and having an arm rigid therewith connected and pivoted at 35 to the uni-versal'bar 30; This push bar 33 is operated rearwardly against the action of a spring 36 (Figure 7) by the printing mechanism, as will be hereinafter described, and when pushed rearwardly, obviously will rock the universal bar into engagement with the lower ends of the levers 25 to hold the levers from rocking movement. The universal bar is held in its operatedposition by a latch 31 including a bar extending lengthwise of the frame 10, this being one'arm' of an angle lever, the other arm 38 of which is pivoted at 39 to the frame and is extended upward for release operation by hand. The movement of the angle lever 38 is against the action of areturning spring 40. The rear end of the bar or arm 31 is provided with a notch 4| for receiving a portion'of the pivot forlatching into engagement therewith. The arm 34 is here shown as a small rod or wire, hooked at its upper end into an opening in the universal bar 30. The hooked end 35 or pivot forms the shoulder for moving into the notch 4|, and hence locks the universal bar in its operated position. This movement is against the biasing of the spring 40. To release the lock so that the type wheels may be operated or re-set, the upper end of the arm 38.0f the angle lever is pressed rearward to the right, moving the angle lever about its pivot 49, thus swinging the arm 31 downward and dislodging the notch 4| from the pivot 35. This releases the universal bar 30 and permits its spring 36 to react. The

- upward extending arm 38 of the angle lever has a forward extending finger piece at its upper end exposed in Figure 15 on the face of the cover plate 6 for manual release operation.

The inking and printing mechanism unit (Figures 1, 2, 3, 10, 11 and 12) includes a carriage 5| located in the forwardly extending portion of the casing and is assembled in and removable from the casing through the open top or front end thereof when the cover 1 is removed, as seen in Figure 3. The construction per se of the mechanism of this unit forms no part of this invention, except as it is correlated with the type wheel unit and associated parts, but constitutes the subject matter of the application of Myron E. Wells, Serial Number 604,824, filed July 13, 1945, now having Patent No. 2,443,939 patented June 22, 1948.

The frame 5| of the unit is folded up from sheet metal to include a bottom and upright side walls 52, the frame being secured in the forwardly-extending portion of the casing, so as to be easily removable, it being here shown as secured in position by one or more screws 53, best seen in Figures 10, 11 and 12, extending through the bottom of the frame and threading into a transverse bottom plate 54 (Figure 3) of the easing As here shown, the screws 53 extend through a reinforcing plate 55 (Figure 11) which is secured to the bottom plate of the casing in any suitable manner, as by screws 56.

The inking mechanism includes an ink applying member or pad normally pressing against an ink supply pad away from the printing line and transferable therefrom to press against the type at the printing line, apply ink thereto, and then move out of the way of the printing hammer or platen against which the work is held during the movement of the hammer to carry the work against the type at the printing line. These operations of the ink applying member is effected by the operating member of the printing mechanism, which carries the hammer or platen.

designates the ink applying member, which is here shown as a head carrying a paid 6|, the head being pivotally carried by rock arms 62 pivoted at 63 upon a stationary transverse rod mounted between bars 5|A fixed to the side plates 52 of the frame 5|. The head 69 is carried at the free ends of the rocker arms 62. 64 are upright sides of a vertically movable carriage 65 suitably guided between the side walls of the frame 5| or the bars 5|A, the head 66 being pivotally mounted between the rock arms 62 and being normally arranged in horizontal position pressing against an ink supply pad 66 and maintained in this horizontal position during the swinging of the rock arms 62 from starting position upwardly when the pad 6| is pressed against the type at the printing line, the rock arms 62 having a movement from the inclined position shown in Figure 10 into an inclined position slightly beyond a vertical line, when the pad BI is pressed against the type at the printing line,

that is, in the position shown in Figure 2. It is so held in horizontal position by a link-61 (Figures 10 and 11) rigid with the head 60 at its upper end and pivoted at its lower end at 68 to one end of a rock arm 69, which in turn is pivoted at 10 to a cross bar H of the frame 5|, the arm 6'! and the arms 62 having a parallelogram action, so as to maintain the ink applying head 60 in horizonal position during its movement. The motion is applied to the arms 62 to swing them during the downward movement of the carriage 65 through cam mechanism designated generally '12, the specific construction of which forms no part of this invention, and any other mechanism may be substituted therefor to translate the downward movement of the carriage 65 to the arms 62 to swing the. arm upwardly and carry the printing heads 60 therewith against the type at the printing line. The cams 12 are levers pivoted at 62A to the upright side bars of the vertically movable frame 65 and coact with pins on the arms 62. The cams merely convert the vertical movement into a crankpin movement to rock the arms 62. The ink pad 66 is mounted in a suitable reservoir or ink well 13 removably supported on the frame 5 I, it having a suitable handle 14 to facilitate the removal thereof.

The printing mechanism includes the platen or hammer 75 carried by an operating arm 16 pivoted at 11 in the frame 5| and extending through a slot in the cover I, the arm I6 having handles 18 extending on opposite sides ofthe head. This platen may be of any suitable construction. The motion of the operating member or rock arm 16 is transferred to the inking carriage 65 through bifurcated lever arms 19 rigid with the lever 16, a pull link connected to the carriage 65 or a lug 8| thereon, through yielding means, as a spring 82, the function of which will presently appear. This pull link 80 has a notch 83 therein with which coacts a follower or roller 84 mounted between the bifurcations of the lever arm 79. Also, a knock-01f shoulder or roller 85 is mounted between these arms 19. The spring 82 is located between the upper side of the lug 8| and nuts or shoulders 86 on the upper end of a stem on the pull link 80, the nuts being adjustable to vary the loading of the spring 82. The article or cloth to be marked is stretched across the face of the platen 15 and so held by the hands grasping the handles 18. When the lever 16 is moved forwardly, to the right (Figure 10), the roller 84 in the notch pulls down the carriage 65 and this movement of the carriage, because of the parallogram action of the arms 62, 69 and connecting link 61 (Figure 11) cause the head 60 carrying the ink applying pad 6| to move upwardly with the outer ends of the arms 62 and maintainhorizontal position and finally press against the type at the printing line to apply ink thereto. In the meantime, the platen 75 is but part way toward printing position. The knock-off shoulder or roller 84 presses against the pull link 80, and as the motion is transferred through the spring 82, the pad 6| is pressed with something of a yielding action against the type. As the arm 16 moves further'when the pad 6| is pressed against the type at the printing line, the knock-off shoulder or roller 85 engages the front edge of the link ?7 wBBgzmoves it :pivotally; this :beingrpermittedrzbe- :causeof the, loose .fit bfitheistfimbfi the 80in 'the hole inlthe lug 8| .throughtwhichthmstem iextends zand'swings the:;ptill link'zfli rearwardly .toadislodge itxfrom the lshoulderzoriroller 84;: the swinging-movement lof' theslinlnflil beingragainst :the action of .a returmngspring' 81. Theidown- -'.wardrshiftingof..the carriage: 65* is; againstsa re- ;tuming compressionlspring flfl. 'iThus; whenithe rod 80 is unlatched from the; rolleri'84 thezspring .;88 reeactswand returns. all ziparts :of .thezinking 'mechanism-to' their starting:positionaithis .being dust, priori tofltheltimethatthe platen1or hammer l5iis ready torbring the iworlc against :the inked 1. type .:at;the :printinguline. The action of this 1.printingrmechanismrisithe csame as :that in the sapplication of :MyromE. .Wells,.Seria1 Number 6() 4-,824, filed :July 13, 11-945 rreferred to herein- -above, 1 and i the specific :construction forms no mart: ofzthis: invention.

iThetypewheel lock'mechanism :or-the pusl'rrod 533' thereofi-isoperated during the forward-moverment ;of the operating member" or 1 rock arm 16. ;:The:motion of this rockarm 'lfi is transferred to =.the:rod:33 through a slide bar. 89 slidably mounted ;in the-:carriage 5| and having its rear or right xhandiendzimrarranged tosthrust against the'front =;or 1eft=;end of;the lock push rod 33. The motion aof;=the..toperatingxarm- I6: is transferred-to the-slide abarrailzthrough: a leaf spring 9i mounted on the dever- 1,6:about: thez.axis;thereof to rock therewith and pressing against anarm '92 on the slide bar 89. The movement of the bar 89 is against the iaction of'a'returning spring93. "The spring 9| is ihereushown :as: anchored to the intermediate part zofiaszyoke 94:.on the'lever 16, the arms of which aremountedw onithe :pivot I1.

iThe inking head, 80 is, asseen in Figures and -14,lcomposed of a boxlike body and-an inking :member :6! slidably mounted therein and so mountedsas to have :a yielding rocking or 'com- :.,pensating action, when it presses against the type tat theprinting': line, as indicated by the angular :arms A.-A-and B--B (Figure 14). As here shown, sthezrocking or compensatinglmovementis pro- :vided bya bow spring-60A in the body of the head i;8ll,:the apex ofthe-springpressing against the neutral part. of .thetinner edge of the member 6013 ;.and 'the ends. of the spring pressing against the abottom of the recess in the 'head 'fill. 'This com- -;pensating actionresults in a uniforminking of :the type :M.

The covers-i6 ;and:'| are.. preferably? held in posiation without the use vof fastening members or :screws, and. as here shown in'Figure 4, the cover 6 latches .behind a shoulder 198 at its rear lower 1end,'the shoulder heingmounted on the bottom ;cross plate 4.0f the ;casing. 'The-xcover -is provideduwith hooks :Btat its: front. end which hook under a: cross bar:98-atithefront end of thesemicircular top edgeof the major "portion of the ".cas-

ing. The resiliencytof "theicoverfi :permits sufiicientplaytoipermit the hooks-to :engage the cross bar 596 I with; a: snap action, af ter the :front end. is hooked at :98. Likewise, the;cover :1:;ma-y the snapgcatched into positioniat its 'lowerendhehind the shoulder 99 at its lower end 'andlhy rhooks or .tangs we at its upper rend for latching :hehind the cross bar 98.

Y Thetwo units, that is,-the type wheel .unitand its associatedparts, and the inking andprinting unit may be readily removed forwcleaning, etc. and ;-r eadily replaced by-removingthe covers-and merely liftingthe units: out of posit-ion, 1 it being only necessary to; remove the fastening screws 53 to remove the hiking. andrprintingiunitsifl. :Theycan be :so' removed, vbecause there is :no interlocking between theimechanisms of these twoiunitsg as the slide bar 89 of? the inking. and printing mechanism merely thrust against'the push-bar 33 of the locking mechanism of the type wheel.

Also, owing to the guiding of theitype wheelsiat diametrically opposite points .at 2 l :22 and'lthe :construction of theyokes'astride the segments 15,:thetype wheels are firmly held againstloose- 'ness when in their set positions, soi-thatithe type at z the :printing line are held in :alinement.

Hence, the printingon: the cloth articles isclean- ,cutror not smeared as otherwise it would be if this type at the printing line could shift even'a by side and freely movable about the same, .the

type being 'mountedon one segment of each wheel, means coacting withithe type carrying :segments near the peripheries of: the type wheels for bolding the type wheels lateral? from movement, said means coacting with .oppositeside faces of each of the type carrying :segments, Land Ireleasable locking means coacting with the .othernse'gmente for holding the type wheels in theirsetposition with a'predetermined type at the printing line,

"the said other segments being formed with :a v series of peripheral notches-and the locking means including bifurcated heads astride the notched :2. In a :marking :machine, .a r casing, :.a:. frame,

.printing :mechanism including type wheels: shiftablei'to bring :differenttype fiIl'l printing'zposition, ..a:spindle mountedin thexframe, the :typewheels being mounted side by :side i on the :spin'dleran'd movable freely about: the same, :the" type'zwheels including diametrically oppositessegments ztsub- -stantially. counterbalancing 'eachothen-itypelcarried 'by onexsegment and :the .otherisegmentt having a =notchedtperiphery, :means 'for holding the wheelsifrom movement about thespindleta'ri'd 1 thereby holding them in set-position :withI-a' :pre-

determined number in printingposition,uthe holding means including :a spring-pressed :leverifor each type wheel,- a. bifurcated head on each lever extending astride the :a'djacent type wheel :and coacting :with opposite side f aces of I the i'notche'd segment thereof and a followercarriedrby each head between the bifurcations "thereof "and :co-

;acting with the notched segmentof the; companiomtypewheel.

3. Imarmarking machine'acasing; type mechlocated on diametrically opposite sides of theitype wheels and'extending between the type-wheels and coacting-withthe side faces thereof to'hold the typewheels from'undue-axial movement on the spindle on-which they are loosely mounted,

and releasable locking means forwholding the type wheels I in set, portion, said locking means thrust- .ing -.radially against the peripheries of the :type

OTTO PETERMANN. FRANK KOSMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 15 file of this patent:

10 UNITED sums PATENTS Number Name Date Ocumpaugh Jan. 12, 1904 Miller Oct. 31, 1905 Hume Jan. 5, 1909 Diehl Dec. 22, 1908 Canine Apr. 22, 1913 Helling June 15, 1915 Hume Aug. 29, 1916 Solenberger July 10, 1917 Canine Nov. 14, 1922 Plant June 10, 1922 Smith Oct. 6, 1925 Sundstrand Mar. 12, 1929 Schonfelder Jan. 28, 1936 Petty Nov. 15, 1938 Gettman Aug. 5, 1941 Kosmer Feb. 3, 1948 

